Delegates to COP-7
met in morning
and afternoon sessions and began their deliberations in
the seventh session of the Committee for Science
and Technology (CST) and the fourth
meeting of the Committee for the Review of the
Implementation of the Convention (CRIC-4).
The morning plenary
heard statements
by Parties, the
UN agencies, and
observers.
The CST met in
the afternoon to address the roster of
independent experts, the survey and evaluation of
existing networks, and the
improving of
the efficiency and effectiveness of the CST.
CRIC-4 also met
in an afternoon session to consider implementation
of the Convention and the Global Mechanism (GM).

Above photo: Delegates huddle in informal consultations
along the breezeway.

PLENARY: statements
by parties, un agencies, AND observerS

Above
photos L-R: Hama
Arba Diallo, Executive Secretary of the UNCCD consulting
with COP-7 President Stephen
Kalonzo Musyoka, Minister of Environment and Natural
Resources, Kenya. President
Musyokaopened
the morning Plenary for general statements; Cherryl
Gordon (Jamaica), speaking
on behalf of the G-77/China, expressed
concern regarding the
current lack of support for multilateralism.

Above photos L-R: Jackeline
Mendoza(Venezuela),
speaking on behalf of Latin American and Caribbean
Group (GRULAC), emphasized the emerging challenge of meeting rising
demands for food; Bongani Masuku (Swaziland), speaking on behalf of the African
Group, called for financial support to African countries for
preparation of reports to CRIC-5.

Above photos L-R: Josceline Wheatley (UK), speaking on behalf of the
EU, highlighted recent developments that could support the UNCCD,
including debt relief and increased aid, and called for efforts to
maximize institutional efficiency; Sanchanka Uladzimiz (Belarus), speaking on behalf of the Central and
Eastern Europe
, introduced efforts and progress made in UNCCD implementation by
the region since COP-6, noting most of the countries in the region
have developed national action programmes (NAPs).

Above photos L-R: Lucien Manga,
World Health Organization,
emphasized the health effects of land degradation including disease
and malnutrition; TrevorSankey, UNESCO, introduced its initiatives
and projects in education and awareness raising in sustainable land
management; UNEP, described its support to the UNCCD, including
activities designed to ensure that environment and development
programs are mutually beneficial (Bakary Kante, UNEP). The
WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION highlighted its efforts to link
desertification with underlying causes such as climate change, and
its use of new early warning technologies (Michel Jarraud,
Secretary General to the WMO) and David McCauley, introduced
the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) initiatives and projects in
addressing land degradation problems in the Asia and Pacific region
such as a project on dust and sand storms in
East Asia
.

Noting
that 90% of the Arab world falls within arid and semi-arid
lands, ARAB CENTRE FOR THE STUDIES OF ARID ZONES AND DRY LANDS
highlighted their efforts to address desertification within the
region, and requested assistance from developed countries for
fulfilling their NAPs.

CLIMATE
NETWORK AFRICA, on behalf of the NGO community,
highlighted the role that civil society has played in the CCD
and their need for further funding to support such role.

Above
photo: Susy Wandera (Climate Network Africa)

Committee
on Science and Technology (CST):

Above photos L-R: Chair Viorel Blujdea(
Romania
) opened the seventh
session of the CST in the afternoon; David
Mouat, Chairperson of the
Group of Experts (GoE), summarized the analysis of
the reports, highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of
national reporting, and noted progress made on thematic issues; Timo
Maukonnen, UNEP, outlined the interim progress report
of the project “Survey and evaluation of existing networks,
institutions, agencies and bodies.”

Committee
for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention:

Above photos L-R: CRIC-3 Chair Mohamed Mahmoud Ould El Ghaouth
(Mauritania) opened the session; a
contact group, chaired by Ositadinma Anaedu
(Nigeria)(above
center) on the
draft decision for the review of the implementation of the Convention
submitted by the
CRIC
Chair was established; delegates in
discussion during the contact group.